Safety lock



- H. SUSSER SAFETY LOCK Nov. 12, 1940.

Filed Nov. 26, 1937 a l/H8978! Patented Nov. 12, 1940,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application November 26, 1937, Serial No.176,667 In Czechoslovakia November 27, 1936 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a safety lock having a plurality of tumblers.

Safety locks having a plurality of tumblers and usually employed forsecuring cash-boxes, safes, etc. are open to the objection that theycannot be protected at present against being opened by unauthorizedpersons who are in possession of a carefully executed copy of theoriginal key. Efforts have therefore been made to eliminate theseidrawbacks by providing a lock which permits modifications of the keybit without requiring changes in the lock itself or which can beadjusted so as to be manipulated by a correspondingly adjusted key bit.

According to the invention, this object is attained by dividing thetumblers of the lock into tumbler plates for the bolt and tumbler platesfor the key, so that when the connection of these two kinds of tumblerplates ceases the tumbler plates for the key can be adjusted accordingto the key bit.

6, a view of the bolt; Fig. '7, a top view thereof;

Fig. 8, a view of a modification of the key tumblers; Fig. 9, a view ofthe tumblers in displaced position; Fig. 10, a view of another form ofkey; and Figs. 11 and 12 are views on an enlarged scale of thecontinuation of the key tumbler in different positions.

Referring to the drawing, the lock comprises a casing I in which,according to the invention, the tumblers 2 for the bolt 9 and thetumblers 3 for the key are arranged. The tumblers 3 are rotatablydisposed on the pin 4 and subjectedto the action of the springs "5, andthe tumblers 2 are provided with notches 6 positioned on the pin I onplate I3 and jointly displaceable in the direction of the projection 8of the bolt 9. -The tumblers 3 possess the usual recesses for the keybit. The tumblers 2 as well as the tumblers 3 having intermeshing teethI0, so that motion of the tumblers 3 by means of a key causes thereforemotion of the tumblers 2 and engagement of the notch 6 by the projection8, whereby opening of the lock becomes possible. Between the tumblers 2spacing plates I I are provided on the pin I and extend over and beyondthe points of engagement of the tumblers 2 and 3 to prevent them fromdriving each other by friction. The bolt 9 is provided with theclearance I2 which receives the ends of the keybit which by theirrotation displace the bolt in known manner.

The tumblers 2 are displaceably arranged in the casing I, as stated, topermit interruption of the meshing of the teeth II] of both kinds oftumblers. In the construction shown, the pin 1 of the tumblers 2issecured to an arm I3 which can be moved about the pin I4 as a pivotagainst the action of the spring 2| and possesses an opening I5 for thereception of a bolt I6, as shown in Fig. 6. As indicated in Figs. 2 and3, the opening I5 of the arm I3 coincides with an opening I! in thecasing I and with an opening I8 of a covering plate I0, so that the armI3 is moved when the bolt I5 is inserted in the opening I! of the;casing I. This causes displacement of the pin I of the tumblers 2 in thelongitudinal opening 20 of the covering plate III in the direction ofthe bolt motion, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 2, since the pin! isintegral with the arm I3 which can be swung about the, pin I4. Theengagement of the teeth I0 of the tumblers 2, 3 is thus interrupted. InFig. 2;the arm I3 is indicated by a broken line while the dash-and-dotline shows the position of the arm afterremoval of the bolt I6-from thelock.

To permit variation of the bit of the key 22 as required, it comprises aplurality of bars 23 which can be held after adjustment in a recess ofthe stem by known means, such as the screw 24. The bars 23 possess onone side the grooves 25 which are engaged by guide bar 26 of the stem ofthe key, so that the bar 23 inserted in this po--' sition is securedagainst displacement in slot and kep fashion. The last bar '21 which isadapted to engage the key sweep I2 of the bolt is so constructed that itcan be moved relative to the stem of the key from one side only.. Theclamping screw 24 can be rotated by the bolt I6 whose one end 28 isfiat'and can serve as screw driver, as indicated in Fig. 6.

The operation of the lock is exactly the same as that of any other lockprovided with tumblers. When the key is turned, the tumblers 3,- againstthe action of the spring 5, will be moved accord ing to the key bit, themeshing ID will cause also motion of the tumblers 2, so that the bolt 9operated through the key-sweep I2 can be projected and the projection 8withdrawn from the notches 6 of the tumblers 2.

The tumblers 3 contacted by the key 22 can be adjusted for a key of adiiferent bit as follows: The door of the container holding the lock isopened, and by means of the key the bolt 9 of the lock is partlyprojected, so that the projection 8 of the bolt 9 is still positioned inthe notches 6 of the tumblers 2 which are thus held in unlockingposition, as shown in Fig. 2. Then the bolt I6 is inserted from withinthe inclosure in the opening ll of the casing l as shown in Fig. 3. Bythe conical end of the bolt IS the arm l3, against the action of thespring 2 l is moved into the position indicated by a broken line in Fig.2, whereby also the pin 1 disposed on the arm I3 is displaced toward theright in the direction of the arrows, in consequence whereof thetumblers 2 arranged on the pin i will be displaced in the direction ofthe projection 8, so that the engagement of the two sets of tumblers 2and 3 is interrupted. When the tumblers are in this position, the key 22can be turned to project the bolt 9 completely and permit withdrawal ofthe key from the lock. The tumblers 3 are absolutely free, while thetumblers 2 are held in bolt unlocking position and secured by theprojection 8. The bolt 16 remains in the lock to maintain the tumblers2, 3 in spaced position.

The bit of the key 22 can then be altered at will by loosening the screw24 and displacing the bars 23, preferably by first removing the last bar2'! from the stem and pushing the other bars provided with grooves 25into the position formerly occupied by the bar 21. Adjustment iseffected by moving up another groove 25 of the bars 23 on the guide 26.When all bars 23 have been relatively adjusted as desired, the screw 24,after insertion of the fixed bar 21, is tightened, and the key will nowhave an entirely different bit.

The adjusted bit is then inserted in the freely movable tumblers 3 andthe key partly turned so that it is positioned vertically to thetumblers 3 which are thus perfectly adapted to the newly adjusted bit.When the bolt I6 is withdrawn from the opening H, the arm l3, owing tothe action of the spring 2!, will be moved again into initial positionat which the tumblers 2 and 3 are in engagement through their teeth I0.In spite of its adjustment, the key 22 can nevertheless be used for thisnew position of the tumblers and is the only one by means of which thelock can be manipulated.

To provide for safe adjustment of the tumblers a key tumbler 3' pivotedon the casing and-disposed on the bolt 9 is formed without toothedsegment, as shown in Fig. 8, and possesses a continuation 29 forcovering the opening I! in the casing for the bolt IS. The continuation29 has an opening 30 which downwardly narrows into a slot 3|, and thetumbler 3' must be so moved that the opening 39 registers with theopening I! before the bolt Hi can be inserted. This position of thetumbler 3' is shown in Figs. 9 and 12.

The tumbler 3' may further be provided in its upper portion withrecesses or notches 32, 33 which are engaged by a pin 34 of the bolt 9to secure it in both opening and closing positions.

and to prevent unintentional inward or outward motion of the bolt duringadjustment of the tumbler 3 which like all other tumblers 3 is moved inknown manner by the key bit.

The bolt I6 may, furthermore, be replaced by a key 35 shown in Fig. 10.The key 35, in addition to its usual bit 36 for moving the arm [3,possesses at the free end of its stem a projection 3'! which drops intothe slot 3| of the opening 30 of the continuation 29 and thus preventsfurther turning of the key 35, the projection 31 being so long and thinas to be able to enter also the smaller openings produced by thecovering of the plates. When therefore the tumbler 3' is moved into theposition shown in Fig. 9 at which the opening I! is in register with theopening 30, the key 35 can be inserted in both these openings and turnedto move the arm l3 and thereby interrupt the engagement between thetumblers 3 and 2. When after withdrawal of the key 22 whose bit is to beadjusted the tumblers for the key are released, the tumbler 3' is movedup by spring action, so that the projection 31 is placed in the positionshown in Fig. 11 and rotation of the key 35 is absolutely prevented.

The adjustment of the key bit and the setting of the tumblers inaccordance with the altered bit can be carried out in the mannerdescribed while the receptacle to which the lock is attached is open.Since the bit of the key comprises a plurality of individual bars whichcan be ad-' justed and the lock possesses a corresponding number oftumblers, both the key and the lock may be altered Within very widelimits. Without the aid of an expert the owner of such a lock may alterthe key at any time, for instance every day, and thus obtain maximumprotection.

In the construction shown the key has a double bit, though keys having asingle bit may be used also, in which case bars differing in length areinserted in the stem and held therein.

A lock according to the invention is particularly suited for safes, etc.manipulated by a changing staff, because it contains within itself themeans for rendering impressions taken of a key or keys absolutelyworthless.

I claim:

1. A safety lock, comprising an apertured casing, a lock boltdisplaceable in the casing, movably disposed tumblers to be operated bya key, recessed rotatable tumblers for the bolt, arms movably arrangedin the casing for supporting said recessed tumblers, a projection onsaid bolt cooperating with said recessed tumblers, a toothing on eachtumbler on the sides facing each other to bring a tumbler for the lockand a tum-, bler for the key into engagement, means for adjusting saidarms to bring said toothings into and out of engagement and anadditional tumbler to be operated by the key for said adjusting means.

2 A safety lock according to claim 1, in which the additional tumbler isformed of a plate having no teeth and a recessed continuation on saidplate for cooperation with the adjusting means.

3. A safety lock according to claim 1, in which a pin of the boltcooperates with the additional tumbler for securing it in one or theother operative position.

HANS SUSSER.

